May 22, 2006

Brewer Baseball

We usually go to one baseball game each year, but since we didn't go to one last year, we fit two in this year. Jason wanted to make sure we visited all the local stadiums before we move, most likely in the fall. Surprisingly enough, even though I grew up in Milwaukee, I never attended any professional sporting events, so it was a first for me to see the Brewers too!

Gavin hit the jackpot on this day. First a photographer gave Jason a ball from batting practice and Jason managed to borrow a marker from someone and get Gavin Floyd (a Phillies pitcher) to autograph the ball. Gavin also got his glove signed by a Phillies coach and a player (I can't remember the name now). He tried to get a Brewer player's autograph too, but the guy had to go and Jason couldn't get a marker off anyone in time. We learned our lesson for next time - bring your own Sharpie!

Then in one of the last innings, Rickie Weeks, a Brewer, hit a ball in our direction. It landed on the turf and the ball girl picked it up and threw it into the crowd. Of course there were hands everywhere, but it fell on the ground and landed in a used nacho cheese container - under the seat right in front of Jason. With Peyton in his lap, he managed to bend down and snatch it before anyone knew where it had gone. So we managed to get two balls out of this experience - one for each boy.

The Phillies, Jason's favorite team, lost, despite the fact they scored three runs in the very first inning. We got to see their rookie pitcher in action. He just recently got pulled up b/c he kept blowing everyone away in the minor leagues. He is a very good pitcher and he'll probably stick around the major leagues.

I must admit I enjoyed this experience much more for several reasons - 1. We arrived early enough to get settled and to eat lunch BEFORE the game started. 2. We could see more of the action b/c our seats were better. 3. We got some momentos for the boys. 4. We had our own, assigned seats. 5. We didn't have a bunch of lushes around us, so there wasn't beer spilled everywhere! I'm of course comparing this experience to our Wrigley Field fiasco of several weeks ago.